Bicyle support and locking device.



No. 628,096; Patented July 4, I899. W. C. HUM PHREYS.

BICYCLE SUPPORT AND LOCKING DEVICE.

(Applicatioxi filed May 22, 1697.

\NO Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVALTER O. HUMPHREYS, OF SALISBURY, MARYLAND.

BICYCLE SUPPORT AND LOCKING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,096, dated July 4,1899.

Application filed y 1897- Serial No. 637,720. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,WALTER O. HUMPHREYS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Salisbury, in the county of Wicomico and State of Maryland,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycle Supportsand Looking Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My inventionconsists in a support and lockin g device for bicycles whichis simple in construction and which. can be readily attached to anymachines of modern construction.

It is customary in standing a bicycle on the street, as well as indoors,to lean the saddle or handle-bar against the side of a building or apost or other support. It is often difficult to find'a suitable supportfor the bicycle, and it also requires considerable skill to place thebicycle so that it will not fall. Moreover, this manner of supportingbicycles results in scratching and disfiguring the saddle andhandle-bar, as well as other parts of the machine. My improved supportprevents the bicycle from moving forward or backward and from tippingover sidewise, and it also holds the front wheel in alinement with v therear wheel, which greatly aids in insuring stability.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of part of abicycle provided with a support embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is anenlarged side View, partly in section, of a part of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asection on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a'section on the line 4 4,Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a detail.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a bicycle-frame having the usualhead 1, upper bar 2, and lower bar 3. On the lower bar, near thecrank-hanger, is a band or collar 4, upon which two supporting-legs 5are pivoted. The legs are'pivoted in such a manner that when turneddown, as shown in full lines, they project laterally at a considerableangle, as shown in Fig. 4, and reach the ground-line. When raised orfolded, they lie close to the lower bar 3, as shown in dotted lines,Fig. 2. The collar to which the legs are connected consists of two partsclamped upon the bar 3 by means of screws or bolts 4 above and below thebar. By adjusting the bolts 4 the supports 5 may be spread to a greateror less angle and the feet of the supports raised or lowered. In thismanner the supports can be adapted to bicycle-frames of differentheights and the spread or base of the supports can be varied. Thesupports are normally drawn up close to the bar 3 by aspring 6, whichmay be connected to the crankhanger directly or to an adjustable collar7 on said crank-hanger. As shown, it is connected to the adjustablecollar, which is held in position by a set-screw 8. A single spring maybe provided with separate springs. The upper ends of the legs areconnected by links 9 and rods 10 11 with a locking-slide 12. The

rods 10 11 are adjustable in relation to each other. As shown, the rod11 is hollow, and

the rod 10 fits in telescopically and is held in place by a set-screw13.

Upon the upper portion of the lower bar 3 are two removable bands 14,upon which are fastened a pair of guides 15, which have flangesembracing the slide 12. Beneath the slide is the keeper-plate 16,connected with the bands 14. The locking-plate slides within the groovesadjacent to the keeper-plate, and it is provided with a latch 17 and alock 18, the tongues of which engage with openings 19 in thekeeper-plate when the supporting-legs are down and with openings 20 inthe keeper-plate when the supporting-legs are up. The latch and lock maybe of any suitable construction. As shown,the latch has a pivoted leverpressed down by a spring 21, and the lock is in a case which projectsabove the latch. Ordinarily the latch only may be used; but when it isdesired to lock the bicycle the key is turned in the lock. To shift theslide and turn the supports up or down, the bolt of the lock is firstwithdrawn and then the latch is operated by pressing it toward the look.When the latch is withdrawn, the slide may be adj usted and locked.

- To make a bicycle stand satisfactorily, it is necessary to lock thefront fork from turning in the head. This also forms an efiectual lockto prevent the wheel from being stolen, as it cannot be ridden 'whilethe front fork is rigid. I provide the following devices for thuslooking the front fork: Pivoted to the upper band 14 is a brace 22,which can be thrown against the front fork, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.The brace is operated by a pair of links 23, which may be connected toboth of the legs, or they connect its lower end with a yoke 24,extending up over the guides and connecting with the slide 12, as shownin Figs. 2 and 3. lhe brace 22 is broad enough to engage both prongs ofthe fork near the head. When the slide 12 is moved forward, the supportsare thrown down, and at the same time the brace 22 is moved against thefront fork, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. When the slide is movedrearward, the supports are thrown up in the dotted position shown inFig. 2, and the brace 22 swings back under them and supports their ends,thus preventing any possibility of the supports becoming free anddropping while the bicycle is in operation.

For temporary purposes the latch alone may be used; but if it is desiredto prevent the wheel from being stolen the lock 18 may be brought intoaction. It will be obvious that the bicycle cannot be ridden by any oneuntil the handle-bar and fork can be moved to steer the front wheel.Furthermore, the legs will be locked in their operative position, whichwould also prevent the wheel from being stolen.

My improved bicycle support and locking device may be used with a ladysbicycle, termed a drop-frame bicycle, as well as with the diamond frame,such as is shown in the drawings. It may be built and sold with thebicycle, if so desired; but I have particularly designed it to be put onthe market as a separate article, which can be readily connected to anybicycle of ordinary construction.

lVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a bicycle having the front fork and lower bar 3,of a brace pivotally connected to said bar and having a broad forwardend adapted to swing into direct engagement with said fork, a supportalso pivoted to said bar, and connections between said brace and supportwhereby they may be moved into and out of operative positionsimultaneously, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a bicycle having a front fork and a lower bar 3of a brace pivotally connected to said bar and having a broad forwardend adapted to swing into direct engagement with both members of saidfork, a support also pivoted to said bar, a locking-slide on said bar,links connecting said brace to said slide, and a rod connecting saidslide to said support, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a bicycle having the front fork and a lowerbar3, of a brace pivotally connected to said bar and having a broad forwardend adapted to engage directly with both members of the fork, and meansfor locking said brace against the fork, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IVALTER C. HUMPHREYS.

Witnesses:

J. A. WATSON, W. CLARENCE DUVALL.

